Aeroplane.



D. R. DAVIS.

AERUPLANE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1910.

1,030,772. Patented June 25, 1912.

l5 i6 15 i7 D l/VVE/VTOR WITNESSES. p m pam r v I BY ATTORNEYS DAVID RICHARD DAVIS, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed August 13, 1910. Serial No. 576,957.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID R. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Eau Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Aeroplane, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in aeroplanes, and more particularly to the means for supporting and mounting the supporting planes of the structure.

My invention is applicable to various types of aeroplanes, but is particularly applicable to that type in which the balancing is effected by a relative movement of the parts of the main supporting plane. In my improved construction, I support the main plane substantially at three points, two of which are on the forward edge of the plane adjacent the opposite corners thereof and the other of which is upon the rear edge midway between the rear corners. Thus, the rear corners of the plane are free to move vertically the limited distance. By providing the plane with a substantially rigid rear edge, the upward movement of one rear corner of the plane can be effected only by an equal downward movement of the opposite rear corner. By so mounting the plane, the rear portion may act automatically to keep the main body of the aeroplane in its proper position when cross currents or vertically-directed currents of air are encountered. It also affords a means by which the main plane becomes self-righting when carried out of its normal position by such air currents.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of aportion of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; and Fig. 3 is an end view.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have not illustrated a complete machine with engine, rotor and other necessary operating and controlling means, as these constitute no portion of my invention. My invention relates solely to themeans for mounting the main planes, and other details have, therefore, been omitted from the drawings. It is, ofcourse, understood that such parts would be used in connection with the planes illustrated as may be necessary to properly propel and guide the machine.

My invention is illustrated as applied to a biplane in which there are the two superposed main supporting planes 10 and 11. The planes are formed of any suitable thin, flexible material stretched over a frame, which includes a front edge member 12, a rear edge member 13 and ribs 1 1 connecting the front and rear edge members, and jointed or hinged to said front and rear members. The end ribs 14, having more strain upon them than the intermediate ribs are made of stronger material. The front edge member 12 of one plane is held rigid in respect to the front edge member of the other plane by vertical braces 15 and by diagonal wires or cables 16. The rear edge member 13 of each plane is connectedto the rear edge member of the other plane by a vertically-disposed upright or brace 17 which 1s dlsposed intermediate the ends of the plane, so as to support said rear frame member at a single point. The rear edge member 13 of each plane consists of two spars jointed or hinged to the ends of the brace 17 so that the outer ends can move forward without bending the spars, as shown in Fig. 1. The hinge connection at the ends of 17 also keep the ends of 13 from sagging, and acts as a fulcrum so that if one of the ends of 13 is forced down the other end will have to move up, as shown in Fig. 2. The uprights or braces 15 of the front edge are at the ends of the planes, so that the entire front edge of each plane is supported. It

will thus be noted that the rear corners of.

rear corner of the plane, the opposite rear corner israised, due to the stiffness of the rear frame member 13.

The method of action of the planes when the same time, the rear edge of the same plane at the other rear corner is forced downwardly because of the stiffness of the rear frame member 13 and the fact that the brace or upright 17 constitutes the fulcrum of a lever. In this way, the rear corner at the end not encountering the upward current is forced downwardly to a position where it meets the horizontal current which the aeroplane may be considered to be encountering because of its forward motion. WVith this rear corner depressed, the forward motion of the aeroplane automatically raises this end and counteracts the lifting action exerted on the opposite end by the upwardly-directed air current above referred to. In this way, the two corners are subjected to pressures which automatically equalize and prevent further displacement of the plane or any of its parts. When one pressure is relieved because of the cessation of the upper current, the air pressure operates to restore the plane to its former position. In this way, the disturbing air current is prevented from affecting the equi-v librium of the aeroplane, and normal conditions are restored automatically.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An aeroplane having a main plane, and means for supporting the same at three points only, two of said points being on the forward edge of the plane adjacent to the opposite corners thereof and the other point being upon the rear edge midway between the rear corners whereby the movement of one rear corner of the plane in one direction by a current of air automatically moves the opposite rear corner of the plane in the opposite direction.

2. An aeroplane having a main plane including a peripheral frame and a cover, the said frame having a front edge member, a rear edge member, and ribs connecting the front and rear edge members, means for -supporting the front edge member of the frame at two points only adjacent tothe ends of the said edge member, and a support for the rear edge member of the frame, at a single point between the outer ends thereof, the said support having a hinge connection with the said rear edge member at said point, the hinge connection forming a fulcrum for said rear edge member.

3. An aeroplane comprising two superposed supporting planes, each including a peripheral frame and a cover, means for rigidlv supporting the planes at the front side thereof with respect to'each other. and a support for the rear sides of the planes and connecting the said rear sides at points midway between the ends thereof, the said rear sides of the planes having a hinge connection with the said support at said points.

otally supporting the said frame at the rear 4. An aeroplane having a main plane including a peripheral frame and a cover,

means for rigidly supporting the said frame at the front edge portion, and means for piv- 0 edge at a single point midway between the 7 ends thereof, the said pivotal connection permitting the ends of said rear edge member of the frame to move forward, the said connection also acting as a fulcrum so that if one of the ends of the rear edge member of the frame is forced down the opposite end is raised.

5. An aeroplane, comprising two superposed main supporting planes, means for holding the front edge of one plane rigid with respect to the front edge of the other plane, the said means including vertical races at the ends of the said front edges 3f the planes, and a single vertically disposed brace connecting the rear edge of one plane with the rear edge of the other plane, the said brace being located intermediate the ends of the planes, and acting as a fulcrum, whereby an upward movement of the rear edge of one of the planes at one end automatically depresses the rear edge of the said plane at the other end.

6. An aeroplane, comprising two superposed main supporting planes, each consist ing of a frame having a front edge member, a rear edge member and-end members, and a cover for the frame, vertical braces connecting the front edge members of the frames with each other at the opposite ends of the frames, a vertical brace connecting the rear edge member of one frame with the rear edge member of the other frame, the said brace being located midway between the ends of the frames, the rear corners of the planes being free to move vertically a limited distance, the said brace acting as a fulcrum for the rear edge members, whereby an upward movement of one rear corner of one of the planes by the pressure of a current of air automatically depresses the opposite rear corner of the said planes.

7. An aeroplane having a main plane, means for rigidly supporting the plane at one edge portion at the ends thereof. and a supporting brace pivotally connected at its end with the said plane at the opposite edge portion at asingle point intermediate the ends of said edge portion, the said latter edge portion having a limited vertical movement on its pivot whereby when one of the ends of said edge portion is moved upward by the pressure of a current of air, the other end is automatically moved downward.

8. An aeroplane comprising two superposed main planes, means for holding one edge of one plane rigid with respect to the corresponding edge of the other plane, means for pivotally connecting the opposite edges of the said planes together at a single point intermediate of the ends of said planes, the ends of said planes at the last mentioned edge having a limited movement relative to the other parts of the planes and adapted to be moved by the currents of air, the movement of one end of one plane in one direction by the pressure of a current of air antomatically moving the other end of said plane in the opposite direction.

9. An aeroplane comprising two superposed supporting planes, rigidly connected with each other at one edge thereof, and a support extending between the said planes at the opposite edges thereof, and at a point midway between the ends of the planes, the i5 ends of the said support having a hinge connection with the said edges of the planes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

7 DAVID RICHARD DAVIS. Witnesses:

L. S. BowNE, O. T. Born.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

